The European Semester is an important tool used by the European Commission to provide a framework for the coordination of national policies across the European Union. Its potential and implications have been remarked by Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President and Commissioner for the Euro & Social Dialogue, and Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills before the European Parliament Employment and Social Affairs and Economic and Monetary Affairs Committees.
The European Semester and Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) 2018 are very important as they are the first since the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and they dedicate special attention to social challenges such as equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion.
For the EFN, the European Semester represents an important tool to assess how the European Pillar of Social Rights Principles can be implemented across Europe, therefore, it needs to pick nurses’ input to respond effectively to societal challenges.